GB2627000A - Arrangement for expelling hot tea essence from tea bag - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is suitable for squeezing out excess scalding water, containing tea or herbal essence from known tea bags. The device may have a string or chord attached, which may include a tag formed of water resistant micro corrugated paper to slide up and down the string. The tag may insulate the user’s fingers from the scalding water. The tag may open and fold over the saturated bag to allow it to be squeezed by pinching the two flaps of the folded over tag. The device can be added to filled tea bags on a production line. The device will reduce production costs as fewer leaves are needed due to the efficient squeezing of the bags. The device reduces the inconvenience and mess of discarding and disposing of wet and dripping tea bags.

Description

1. This invention relates to three devices to expel excess tea/ herbal essence retained in tea bags after emersion in boiling water.

2. The inconvenience and awkwardness of handling a soaked and dripping tea bag suspended on a string, is a well know irritant. When disposing of a soaking bag a high percentage of tea/ herbal essence is lost. This invention greatly reduces this loss as well as reducing the inconvenience and mess from soaking, dripping bags.

3. This invention embodies three methods of reducing known tea bags to a convenient size so they can be more easily squeezed dry by a water resistant micro corrugated tag.

4. In one embodiment of the invention Fig 1 there is a length of string 2 doubled over and the two ends 3a and 3b affixed at either side of a tea bag 1 in the middle, see Fig 1. In a second embodiment Fig 4, a length of string is affixed to the base of the bag 5 then doubled up the length of the bag and affixed at 6a, crossed over at 90 degrees and affixed at 6b thus forming a loop 7 holding the string. In a third embodiment Fig 7 a length of string is affixed to the base of a bag internally at 8. It then passes between the top two edges of the bag 16.

5. In the first embodiment the top half of the bag folds down over the bottom half 18 Fig 2. In the second embodiment the bottom half of the bag is folded upwards over the top half 19 when the string 2 is pulled up Fig 5. In the third embodiment the bottom fold of the bag is pulled up to the top edge in a concertina form Fig 8.

6. Figs 3, 6, 9 show three methods of cutting and attaching tags from reels of water resistant micro corrugated paper. The use of micro corrugated paper to insulate fingers from high water temperature is well known (insulating sleeves for take-away paper cups).

The three different tags are interchangeable and can be applied to any suitable tea bags.

7. Description of figures

Fig 1 is a diagrammatic drawing of a flat rectangular tea bag of filter material with the two ends of a string affixed 3a 3b.

Fig 2 shows a rectangular bag 1 soaked after emersion in tea infused water which, if filter paper, reduces its wet strength so that the top half tends to fold down over the bottom half 18, from the middle where it is suspended.

Fig 3 shows a reel of micro corrugated paper 9 where one edge is notched at intervals 10. These notches form lugs 11 either side of the notch. It shows cutting lines 12 where two notched leaves cut from the reel are affixed together by fusing the lugs together and with the string 2 passing through a slot 13 between the lugs 11 and notch edges of 4a and 4b.

Fig 4 is a diagrammatic drawing of a rectangular bag 1 where the string 2 is affixed to form a loop 7 at the top of the bag.

Fig 5 shows the string 2 having been pulled up 19 through the loop 7, thus folding the bag in half.

Fig 6 shows a reel 9 where one edge is notched 10 resulting in two lugs 11 per piece. There is a cut 14 at the mid point. The lugs 11 are folded over. The string 2 is placed on 4a. 4b is folded over on the cut line 14, 20 and 4a and 4b affixed by the lugs 11.

Fig 7 is a diagrammatic drawing of a rectangular bag 1 with string affixed to the bottom of the bag internally on the inside of the bag at 8 and passing out at the top at 16 by a known technique.

Fig 8 shows the bottom of the bag being pulled up 21 when the top of the bag is held down by the tag thus compressing the bag and its contents.

Fig 9 shows a reel 9 cut in a manner with two attached leaves 4a 4b joined at 17. String is placed over 4a and 4b folded over at 17 with notch 10 forming a slot 13 for string to pass through.

Fig 10 shows sliding tag pressed down on the bag 1 with leaves 4a and 4b enfolding the bag and being squeezed 23.

Fig 11 shows a round bag adapted as per the first embodiment.

Fig 12 shows a tetrahedron (pyramid) bag formed from a flat bag by joining the top two sides of the bag at 90 degrees to the bottom. The ends of the string are affixed same position as in Fig 1.

Claims (1)

1. 8. Claims 1. A devise for squeezing out excess scalding water, containing tea/ herbal essence from known tea bags.

   2. A devise of claim 1 where the devise has string or chord attached to the bags in such a manner that the bag can be reduced in size when it is removed from a cup or mug of hot water.

   3. A devise of clause 1 and 2 whereby the devise also includes a tag formed of water resistant micro corrugated paper that is attached to the string in order that it is able to slide up & down the string without becoming unattached.

   4. A devise of claim 3 whereby the micro corrugated paper of the tag helps to insulate the fingers when squeezing out retained scalding water from the bag.

   5. A devise of claim I and 3 whereby the tag opens and fold over the saturated bag so that the bag can be conveniently squeezed to expel retained water and essence by pinching the two flaps of the folded over tag.

   6. A devise of claim 2 that can be applied to filled tea bags on existing production lines by adding a mechanical finishing device to the production line.

   7. A devise of claim 1 that can be applied to various shapes and sizes of tea bags.

   8. A devise of claim I that can potentially reduce production cost as fewer herbal leaves are necessary as their essence is harvested more efficiently by squeezing the essence from the bag.

   9. A devise of claim 1 that reduces the inconvenience and mess of discarding and disposing of wet and dripping tea bags.